| Labour conditions in the automobile sector in Germany | |
|---|---|
| Lead NCP | Germany |
| Supporting NCP(s) | Korea, Republic of (South) |
| Description | Specific instance notified by the trade union IG Metall regarding the activities of HMETC, a company associated with Hyundai Motor Company, a Korean automobile manufacturer operating in Germany. |
| Theme(s) | Employment and industrial relations |
| Date | 25 Mar 2014 |
| Host country(ies) | Germany |
| Source | Trade Union |
| Industry sector | Manufacturing |
| Status | Concluded |
| Summary | Read the final statement issued by the German NCP concluding the specific instance - 5 March 2015 In a letter dated 25 March 2014 and received by the German NCP on 8 April 2014, a trade union requested the NCP to review a Korean company's alleged breach of the employment and industrial relations provisions of the Guidelines in Germany. These allegations specifically referred to violations of employees’ rights to engage freely in works council and trade union activity. The NCP conducted an initial assessment and, on 8 July 2014, concluded that the request merited further consideration. The Korean NCP was kept informed during and after the process. Following the initial assess phase, the German NCP offered the parties its assistance in resolving some points related to the question of the violation of trade union rights. As part of this process, the NCP offered the parties the chance to hold joint mediation meetings. This was accepted by the trade union. However, in a letter dated 20 November 2014 the company stated that it would not accept the NCP’s offer. The company believed that the trade union's request was part of an international campaign, and in their opinion it had not been made in good faith. Furthermore, the company believe that the complaint was unfounded and the OECD Guidelines had not been violated. The NCP greatly regrets the rejection of its offer of mediation by the company because, in its view, the offer of mediation talks contributes towards improving the relations between employee representatives, active trade union members and the management. Mediation would have given the parties a foundation for constructive and trusting co-operation without the need for further court cases. #FACB #automotive #campaigning #localsubsidiary |
